Sheriff Gus given gift

By JANIE SLAVEN<br>Record Staff Writer

March 11, 2008 04:58 pm

— WHITLEY CITY — With his trademark hat and mustache, Sheriff Gus Skinner is making a name for himself across the region. And when neighboring Whitley County heard he was in need of some new wheels, the whole community pitched in to see that need met.
The story starts about a month ago when Skinner contacted Josh Bunch, Whitley County’s Director of Public Projects, for assistance with a grant application to replace some of his department’s older vehicles. The sheriff himself was driving the oldest vehicle in the fleet — a 1993 Crown Victoria with more than 185,000 miles on it and running on salvaged parts.
With the blessing of Whitley Judge-Executive Pat White Jr., Bunch decided to go through the county surplus property and found a mildew-covered Chevrolet Tahoe with a damaged trans-mission.
“It was sitting under a tree on its frame,” Bunch recalled.
Explaining Judge White’s position, Bunch continued, “McCreary County’s drug war is our drug war. It’s going to take a community to do this and Judge White wants to work with other counties.”
When Skinner arrived at Whitley County High School Friday, he thought he was picking up a roughly-painted Tahoe which still needed a lot of work. But what he found had been completely refurbished to the tune of $12,000. Most don’t even know Skinner, but all are concerned about the region’s drug problem.
D&D Auto’s Darryl Monhollen had overhauled the engine and transmission. Community Trust Bank paid for the cost of the transmission.
“We just wanted to be involved,” bank president Holbert Hodges said. “It was such a generous idea. Law enforcement is underappreciated.”
Big Dawg Grafx’s Eric Croley provided the graphics and reflective decals. Advance Auto donated windshield wipers, exhaust tips and seat covers, while Radio Shack donated a TomTom navigation system to the project.
Wynn Fire Equipment in Knox County installed the lights, sirens, radios and other electrical components, which were donated by the City of Williamsburg and the Williamsburg Police Department. Marine-Myers Auto’s Tim McCullah provided paint and body work while Falls Ford manager Robbie Brown provided detailing as well as new tires and wheels.
Also helping out were Performance Towing’s Donald Smith, who towed the vehicle to different vendors for insurance reasons; Advance Auto’s Phil Pettit; and about 100 students from Glen Croley’s vocational/agriculture classes at Whitley County High School, who assisted with various parts of the project over an intense three days.
Senior Rachel Harp said she is actually hoping to be a nurse but had a blast helping to build the Tahoe’s push bar — which is mounted on the front bumper to assist with vehicle maneuvers.
The donors even included a dog cage in the back. Sheriff Skinner worked with K-9 units before he retired from the U.S. Forest Service.
Surrounded by several who contributed and presented with the title by Whitley County Treasurer Jeffrey Gray, Sheriff Skinner was moved to tears Friday as he got his first look at his new mode of transportation.
“I don’t know how to thank you enough,” the sheriff said. “This is the highlight of my career. Young folks like you are why I ran [for sheriff]…why I hate drugs. These kids are my life.”
Skinner’s wife, Tracey, helped coordinate the surprise. She added that USDA Rural Development had approved a loan for three Ford vehicles which is being matched 80-20 with assistance from McCreary County Fiscal Court.

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